Outdoor toilet seat unit



Sept. 26, 1961 R. w. STREHLKE OUTDOOR TOILET SEAT UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001,. 24, 1960 ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 0 R. w. STREHLKE OUTDOOR TOILET SEAT UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1960 ill.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Filed Oct. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,321 4 Claims. (Cl. 4--116) This invention relates to an outdoor toilet seat unit.

The primary objects of the invention are: (1) that'thc unit is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture; (2) that the unit can be quickly assembled for use, and can be quickly and easily knocked down and assembled into a compact bundle which will utilize the minimum of space when carried in an automobile, or other vehicle, for camping or picnicking, or for trailer travelers, road builders, etc.

It is also an object of the invention that the assembled unit provides its own seating surface which will assure against said unit tipping, or sinking into the earth upon which it stands.

Other objects of the invention relating to structural features for accomplishing the objectives above will ap pear from the description to follow, as well as the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toilet unit when fully assembled and ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view, and a partial sectional View, taken on the line 22 of the direction of the arrows shown;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the parts constituting the toilet unit including the seat when nested or assembled to form a compact bundle for carrying or transporting;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section, and a partial edge elevation, of the toilet unit taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom plan view of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is an assembly view illustrating how folded lips extending from the vertical edges of the panels forming an enclosure for the toilet unit may be slidably engaged for locking the ends of the panels together.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, A indicates, in general, the toilet unit which comprises the front and rear panels 10 and 11 respectively, and the side panels 12 and 13. The toilet seat is indicated by the reference numeral 14 which carries a cover 15 secured thereto by the strap hinges 16.

Each of the panels 10, 11, 12, and cated from 24 gauge galvanized sheet metal which provides ample strength and avoids rust. The seat 14 and cover 15 are preferably made from plywood. The seat may be about /2 inch in thickness. The cover 15 may be thinner than the seat as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 each vertical edge of the front and rear panels 10 and 11 respectively is provided with a lip which is folded upon itself to provide a runner 17 adapted to slidingly fit within a slot 18 formed by the double folding of lip 19 which extends from each Vertical edge of the side panels 12 and 13.

Each panel 10, 11, 12, and 13 is also provided with a seating flange 20 at its lower end which preferably is formed with a hem or single back fold 21 to provide a rounded longitudinal edge as indicated. For purposes of assembly of the unit, the seating flanges 20 of the front and rear panels 10 and 11 respectively, has a portion removed or cut away at each end as at 22in FIGS. 1 and 6. The specific purpose of this hem alteration will later appear herein.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the seat 14 is supported by a flange 23 extending inwardly from each of the panels 10, 11, 12, and 13. In each case this seating or support- 13 may be fabri- FIG. 1, when looking in res Patent flange constitutes a lip 24 which extends from the upper end of each panel, and is folded downwardly tight against the inner side ,of the panel, and then outwardly to provide the seating flange or edge 23 for the seat 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 the seat fits snugly within the upper end of the enclosure formed by the panels 10, 11, 12, and 13, and its edges abut the inner sides of th respective panels. With the seat 14 of a thickness to fill the recess provided by the upper end portions of the panels, and the seating flanges or ledges 23, a smooth top surface of the toilet seat unit is provided. The snug fitting of the seat 14 in the recess provided permits coaction between the panels and the seat for providing a rigid and sturdy toilet seat unit. When the unit is placed over a suitably prepared hole in the earth, or other disposal means, the seating flanges 20 give further rigidity to the unit and support the same against tipping or settling into the earth.

Assuming that it is desired to assemble the toilet seat unit as shown in FIG. 1, a side panel having slots 18 may be brought into the position shown in FIG. 6 by one hand of the operator, and with the other hand, he can bring the front panel 10 with runners 17 beneath said side panel as shown; and then the runner 17 may be guided into the slot 18 of panel 12 and slid upwardly therein for locking together the associated ends of the panels.

The assembly of the panels is facilitated if the runner t 17 of panel 10 is initially slid upwardly in its slot 18 about 3 or 4 inches, and then the remaining side panel is similarly positioned, i.e., the remaining runner 17 of the front panel 10 placed in the proper slot 18 of the other side panel 13, and then both runners 17 of the panel 10 fully fitted into their respective slots 18 of the associated ends of the side panels 12 and 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 the assembly of three panels brings the ends of the seating flange 20 of the side panels 12 and 13 on top of the similar ends of the front panel 10 i.e., on top of the end flange portions of panel 10 which have their hems 21 cut away as indicated at 22.

The assembly of the unit may now be completed by bringing the upper ends of the runners 17 of the rear panel 11 to register with the lower ends of the slots 18 of the associated ends of the side panels 12 and 13. Panel 11 can now be moved upwardly and into its aS- sembled position, and thus bring the ends of its seating flange 20 beneath the ends of the flanges 20 on the associated ends of panels 12 and 13 as indicated in FIG. 1. This completes the assembly of the four panels forming the toilet seat enclosure.

As is apparent, the above assembly operations can be done quickly and easily. The seat 14 with cover 15 can now be placed in assembled position as best shown in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to dissemble or knock down the unit, the seat and cover are first removed. The operator can now place a foot on the seating flange 20 of both the front and rear panels 10 and 11 respectively, and either of the side panels 12 or 13 can be pulled upwardly to remove the same from the assembly. The same operation will free the other side panel and thus the unit is completely dissembled or knocked down.

Referring to FIG. 3, the panels and seat comprising the toilet unit described herein have been assembled into a compact bundle which is held together preferably by rubber bands 25. The panels with runners 17 can be nested inside of a panel with slots 18; the seat and cover can then be placed thereon, and then the remaining panel with slots 18 is laid thereon. The rubber bands shown, or a rope or wire can be used for holding together the parts forming the toilet unit, including the seat and cover. As is obvious the bundle can be easily carried by a person.

While in the foregoing description I have set forth certain details of construction, and certain operations for assembling and dissembling the toilet unit, it is to be understood, however, that this invention is not to be so limited as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toilet seat enclosure comprising a pair of opposing sheet metal panels, each having its vertical edges folded inwardly at substantially 90 to the panel, and an end portion thereof folded beneath the inwardly folded portion to provide a runway between said folds, and a second pair of opposing sheet metal panels each having its vertical edges bent outwardly and then inwardly for providing a runner adapted to freely slide in the runway provided by the double folds of the associated vertical edges of the aforementioned opposing panels, whereby the pairs of panels may be slidably and detachably secured together for providing a knock-down toilet seat enclosure.

2. A toilet seat enclosure comprising a pair of opposing sheet metal panels, each having its vertical edges folded inwardly at substantially 90 to the panel, and an end portion thereof folded beneath the inwardly folded portion to provide a runway between said folds, the inner ends of the last fold in each case being in spaced relation to the inner surface of its respective panel, and a second pair of opposing sheet metal panels each having its vertical edges bent outwardly and then inwardly for providing a runner adapted to freely slide in the runway provided by the double folds of the associated vertical edges of the aforementioned opposing panels, whereby the pairs of panels may be slidably and detachably secured together for providing a knock-down toilet seat enclosure.

3. A toilet seat enclosure comprising a pair of opposing sheet metal panels, each having its vertical edges folded inwardly at substantially 90 to the panel, and an end portion thereof folded beneath the inwardly folded portion to provide a runway between said folds, a second pair of opposing sheet metal panels each having its vertical edges bent outwardly and then inwardly for providing a runner adapted to freely slide in the runway provided by the double folds of the associated vertical vided by said flanges,

edges of the aforementioned opposing panels, whereby the pairs of panels may be slidably and detachably secured together for providing a knock-down toilet seat enclosure, a horizontal flange on the inner side of each panel near its upper end whereby when the panels are assembled to form an enclosure a seating ledge is proand a toilet seat adapted to closely fit within the enclosure and rest upon said seating ledge;

4. A toilet seat enclosure comprising a pair of opposing sheet metal panels, each having its vertical'ed es folded inwardly at substantially to the panel, and an end portion thereof folded beneath the inwardly folded portion to provide a'runway between said folds, a second pair of opposing sheet metal panels each having its vertical edges bent outwardly and then inwardly for providing a runner adapted to freely slide in the runway provided by the double folds of the associated vertical edges of the aforementioned opposing panels, whereby the pairs of panels may be slidably and detachably secured together for providing a knock-down toilet seat enclosure, a horizontal flange on the inner side of each panel near its upper end whereby when the panels are assembled to form an enclosure a seating ledge is provided by said flanges, a toilet seat adapted to closely fit within the enclosure and rest upon said seating ledge, and an outwardly extending seating flange for the enclosure at the lower end of each panel, each flange being greater in length than its respective panel, and the ends of the seat flanges of each pair of opposing panels adapted to rest on the extended flange ends of the other pair of panels. when said panels are assembled to form an enclosure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,414,948 Hazen May 2, 1922 2,410,092 Martin Oct. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 528,453 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1940 

